Liverpool center back Joel Matip is not overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to stop Diego Costa when the pair meet on Friday night.
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In a busy summer of big-money arrivals, Matip’s free transfer from Schalke is looking one of the Premier League’s best bargains following a string of consistent performances when he has been fit to play.
Cameroon manager Hugo Broos recently expressed his disappointment after the defender did not accept a call-up.
“I would say at the moment I will be concentrating on Liverpool”, Matip told the Telegraph, when asked about if he’ll travel. “It is a long time until January so you never know, but that is the idea”.
“Last year I had injury problems”.
The Spain worldwide has made an impressive start to the campaign by netting four goals in his first four Premier League games, including a brace against Swansea City last time out.
Joel Matip feels he is ready for everything Diego Costa will throw at him when Liverpool face Chelsea on Friday.
The Cameroon global also revealed he is planning to miss out on the Africa Cup of Nations in January in order to focus on settling in at Liverpool.
“If an opponent tries to talk to me during the game, really, I don’t give a f–“, Matip continued. They can say what they want.
“Anyway – the Italian manager confirmed – It’s very hard to tell you players “pay attention because you are risking a ban”, I think that Diego knows this and is important to not take yellow card for other things, only for tackles”. “You can play against players who like to make you uncomfortable, but not too many with his size or as famous as him”, he added. “And when the game finishes, if you win, you go home happy”, Costa told the official Chelsea magazine.
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“I prepare for the whole team”, Matip said.
